The entire time Seth was telling Ashley his story, Ashley was silent. Seth saw her disbelief and eventually sat down next to her.

"Is it really that hard to believe? It makes sense. You have seen it with your own eyes"

Ashley thought about it for a second before her jaw dropped.

"It was you in the forest that day, wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"But it- I mean you- what? How?"

"It's something in my blood. I was so ready to avoid you. I love you and I wanted to keep you safe, even if that meant staying away from you. I just happened to be walking down the street when I heard those disgusting men talking about you. I was worried, then angry. Since I couldn't control my temper, I couldn't control the shift.

"I rushed in, not thinking clearly, all I was thinking is that I would not let them touch you. I don't regret it one bit because I guess the eye contact with you triggered the imprint. I am sorry for everything, Ash. I wouldn't have put you through all of this if it wasn't for the imprinting, but I can't bear to be away from you anymore, no matter how hard I try."

"Wait, if it wasn't for the what? I recognize the word, but I don't really understand what it is. I'm so confused. I scanned some stories online last night, and this sound just like them, but it isn't possible. They're just stories right? "

Seth sighed, but smiled, as he put his arm around her. Ashley opened her mouth to apologize but he beat her to it.

"Is anything just a story anymore? Don't worry, I'm not getting frustrated with you. I promise. This is just harder to explain than I thought it would be.

"Imprinting. It's another wolf thing. It's like true love, but much deeper than that. It's almost like gravity doesn't matter, it's this girl that is the thing holding you here. You would do anything, be for her, anything she wanted, no matter what."

"You seem to know a lot about it."

"I would, I've felt it. I'm feeling it now."

"So you've imprinted? On who?"

"You, silly," Seth said with a grin.

"But, why? I mean, not that I'm not glad that you did, but why me?"

"I don't know. Maybe because I love you and I have loved you for a while, maybe because you are perfect for me. No one really knows why."

"Isn't it terrible though? Having your free will taken away to please this one girl only? To please me?"

"It didn't turn out too badly for me." Seth smiled and hugged her close to him. "Are you upset?"

"No, not at all. I love you and I am ecstatic, but I don't understand how you can know who your soul mate is at fifteen and decided that you are staying with her forever, regardless. Please, don't take this the wrong way. I'm just trying to understand. It all sounds so implausible."

Seth sighed. "Don't worry, I'll never get upset at you for being honest with me. And I know it's kind of farfetched."

"Kind of?"

"Alright, I wouldn't believe it myself if I wasn't feeling it, or could see it though the other guys' thoughts. I suppose I will prove it to you over time."

Ashley smiled at the idea.

"I would never lie to you though. And do you really think I'm creative enough to think all this up on my own?" Seth asked

"I know you didn't, but even when I saw the stories it seemed too implausible for it to have any truth to it." Ashley still had this nagging feeling that it was true, at least part of it.

"What do you remember from them?"

"Honestly? Not a lot. It was really late and I don't think my brain was functioning properly. It was kind of a long day." Ashley reminded him." Who else has this happened to?"

"Leah, Sam, Paul, Jared, Jacob Black, and Embry Call."

"Really? Has everyone imprinted?"

Seth hesitated for a moment before answering. "No, just Sam, Jared, Paul, and I."

"So that's why Daphne and Paul got together so quickly, and the same thing with Jared and Kim." Ashley gasped. "That is what happened with Sam and Leah."

"Yeah, and now Leah is part of the pack, which sucks even more, because she can read Sam's thoughts, including the ones about Emily. As much as I love her she really isn't making it very easy to share a mind with her." Seth looked down at Ashley and saw her confused expression. "I am going too fast aren't I? Ok, let me explain this."

Seth explained everything to Ashley, from the mind reading, to the wolf transformation, to their heat.

"And now you know everything."

It was well into the afternoon by the time Seth finished. Ashley was starting to understand but it was still a lot to take in, and it wasn't exactly easy material to wrap her head around. His story matched almost exactly with what she remembered from the website, but it sounded so different coming from him. Just then, Ashley's stomach growled.

"We have been out here for so long I guess I forgot about lunch." Ashley laughed.

"I have the perfect idea. Come with me." Seth grabbed his and Ashley's bags and tossed them over his shoulder before taking her hand. The heat from radiating from his skin was no longer uncomfortable. After all this time she spent in contact with him, it was quite the opposite. Ashley stepped closer to him as they walked towards their neighbourhood.

"Where are we going?" Ashley asked.

"You'll see. C'mon."

They walked a little while longer before Seth spoke.

He looked down at her. "Why aren't you talking? You always have something to say. Am I freaking you out?"

"Calm down, you aren't going to scare me off that easily." Ashley smiled and Seth's face was covered with a grin. "I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"Why you didn't tell me earlier." Ashley admitted. She looked down at the road.

"Because I couldn't have told you even if I wanted to, and neither could anyone else. We have three very important laws. The most important being, no wolf can kill or cause harm to its brother's imprintee. It is the most sacred law we have because it would cause too much pain to the brother to have his imprintee hurt or killed." Seth shivered, and Ashley squeezed his hand tighter.

"I know what it feels like to see your one true love in pain. Well, not mine, but Sam's. You know Emily's scars?"

Ashley nodded.

"Well, there are risks to hanging around wolves. It wasn't a bear attack. It was Sam. He didn't mean to and he feels terrible about it every day. When he and Emily first met he was still new at this and he was all alone. He got really angry over something and shifted, but he scratched her in the process. He felt terrible about it afterwards, of course, but the funny thing is, Emily was comforting Sam about it. They have been inseparable since."

"That sounds terrible."

"Oh, the wolf thing isn't all bad. It's actually kind of cool. Running through the forest on all fours, being able to have extreme senses, especially me with my advanced hearing."

Ashley smiled at his excitement. "What are the other laws?"

"That we can never reveal what we are to anyone who isn't an imprintee. So Emily, Kim, and now you and Daphne know. Of course there are other people who know. Like, my dad knew because he was on the council. My mom knows now because he took his place, and Billy, and Old Quil know too because they are also on the council. The only other person who knows about us is Bella Swan."

"Bella? Charlie's daughter? Why does she know?"

"Jacob told her."

"Jacob?"

"Another member of the pack. I really like him. I used to be friends with him, but he made the transformation just before you came here and after that we never really talked. But it's all good now."

"So wait, why does Bella know then? I thought only imprintees could know."

"It's supposed to be that way, but Jacob found a way around it. He kind of made Bella figure it out herself. Like, he told her the legends and she related them back to him. Sam was pissed about it, but what could he do? The damage was already done and it's not like Bella has or is going to tell anyone. It could ruin the Cullens too if she did. They are the vampire family who live in Forks." Seth added when Ashley looked confused. "Bella is dating Edward Cullen, or at least, I think they are together."

"Wait, there are vampires too? Like human sucking vampires?"

"No, they don't hunt humans, at least the Cullens don't. I actually have no problem with them even though we are supposed to be enemies or something."

Ashley looked up at Seth and raised an eyebrow.

"That's apparently why we exist, to hunt vampires and protect people. I don't see any problem with the Cullens though. It's not like they are exactly a threat to humans. I mean, the dad is a doctor. He isn't hurting people, he is helping them. I don't get why Sam hates them so much."

"The dad?"

"Well, not exactly. He is a father figure. Vampires are created through one biting a human. Carlisle created almost all of the family, but only because they would've died if he didn't."

Ashley couldn't get her head around it. "Do you understand how crazy this all sounds? Besides, how would you know all of this?"

"I know it sounds crazy but it's true. I have seen it, with my own eyes and through the other guys' and it's in the legends."

"Ugh, this is so crazy. Science, logic, they are all against it," Ashley argued.

"Maybe this world isn't all science and logic. Maybe there is something more," Seth said softly, looking down at her with what she could only describe as love.

Ashley beamed up at him. "There must be if all of this is true and I know I get to keep you."

By this time they were almost at a little cabin-like house. There was smoke coming out of the chimney and she could hear boys arguing inside, then a woman's voice hushing them.

"Seth, where are we?"

"This is Emily and Sam's house. It's kind of like a den for the pack. We all meet here and Emily's door is always open. Besides, she makes the best food." Seth grinned. "C'mon." He pulled her towards the door.

As soon as she walked through the door, Ashley could smell the aroma of chocolate chip cookies baking. As they rounded the corner to the kitchen, she saw Jared, two other boys who looked very much like Seth and Jared, and Emily and Sam. The men were all crowded around the small dining room table eagerly awaiting the giant plate of steaming cookies in Emily's hands. There were multiple cleared plates scattered around the table with nothing but crumbs left.

As soon as the plate hit the table, the guys dove for them, hitting one another.

"Boys, there are plenty more where that came from. Don't fight. And I'm sure Ashley would like one," she said, smiling at Ashley with the good side of her face.

There was a chorus of, "Yes, Emily," from the hungry wolves.

Seth lunged forward and took a handful of cookies from the plate.

"Here," he said, offering one to Ashley. She thanked him and began nibbling on it.

Ashley felt a little uncomfortable, like she was intruding on a family event. Seth kept contact with Ashley the entire time. He was either holding her hand, or had an arm around her, but he dove into the conversation and Ashley stayed silent.

At about the time school would be over, Ashley texted Terry telling her she would be out for that majority of the night. She got a text back agreeing, but reminding her that it was indeed a school night, and not to be too late.

When Ashley looked up from her phone, she noticed Emily move out of the kitchen and into the living room. Ashley kissed Seth's jaw quickly before following the other girl.

Emily was folding laundry and Ashley walked up to her and began helping with the folding.

"Welcome to the family," Emily said when she saw Ashley pick up a piece of clothing.

"Emily, I am so sorry for what I said to Sam and you during the funeral. I didn't understand. I just felt so bad for Leah, although she would hate to hear it. I know she is independent but it seemed like no one ever stood up for her, so I did," Ashley said, looking down at the pair of cut-of jeans in her hands.

"I know you did what you did was because you care about her. I care about her too. Sam and I talked about it after and realized you were right, but now with Leah as a part of the pack, things are more complicated than ever. She does appreciate you standing up for her though, Sam heard her thinking about it one time."

"So do you forgive me?" Ashley asked.

"Of course I do. You're family now." Emily said, taking the younger girl's hands in hers. "Speaking of which, has Seth told you about the wedding? My and Sam's?"

"Yes, he mentioned it once, a long time ago," Ashley said, remembering the late night walk she and Seth had the day before they got together.

"Well, I want you to be a bridesmaid," Emily smiled.

"Emily, I couldn't." Ashley shook her head.

"Of course you can. All of the wolves and imprintees are in the bridal party. That includes you now Ashley," Emily insisted. She places the folded shirt in a pile and put her hands on Ashley's. "Please?"

"Okay, if you're sure."

"One hundred percent."

Ashley smiled, excited now. She has never been a bridesmaid before and she had only been to one other wedding in her life, but she loved weddings.

As the women finished with the laundry and headed back in the direction of the kitchen, Ashley thought it was as good a time as any to ask the question she had wanted to ask since she arrived.

"Emily?"

"Hmm?"

"Who are the other two guys here? I mean, I know Jared, Sam and Seth, but I didn't recognize the other two." Ashley admitted, slightly embarrassed.

"Oh, the taller, slightly less muscular one is Embry. The shorter one is Quil, the newest addition to the pack, before the Clearwaters that is. He joined a couple months ago. They're technically a few years older than Seth. That's probably why you've never met them."

"Technically?"

"Seth didn't tell you? Maybe that's something he should tell you himself, not me. Ask him about it. I can almost guarantee he will tell you."

Ashley didn't have time to question it because Emily walked over to Sam who kissed her so passionately that Ashley had to look away, feeling like she was intruding.

She walked back over to Seth who was leaning up against the wall behind Quil and Embry. Without breaking conversation, Seth wrapped his arms around his girlfriend's waist and pulled her towards him. Ashley has her back against his chest and her arms were on top of his long ones that were folded around her protectively.

Ashley smiled at Seth's warmth and scent, inhaling deeply. His scent was one of the things that hadn't changed about him at all. That and the fact that even though he was taller and broader, she still seemed to fit perfectly in his arms.

She turned her attention to the rest of the company. Sam had an arm around his Emily's waist, and the other boys seemed unfazed by the couple's intimacy. Probably because they saw into each other's minds so often. Ashley shivered at the thought. Every kiss, touch, fight and word shared between her and Seth was out there for any of these people to see.

Seth tightened his grip on Ashley slightly and rested his chin on her head. Ashley noticed Sam give Seth a look before he loosened his grip again, but kept his head on hers. Ashley added that to her mental list of things to ask Seth about.

The young couple left Emily and Sam's late that night. They weren't worried about walking home, especially considering Seth was one of the scariest things in the forest at night, and he was the one walking with her. He was confident he could protect them. Still, Ashley could have sworn she saw the occasional gray blur fly past them and Seth scoff.

The couple walked in silence for a little while, but Seth didn't let it last long.

"You're usually so talkative, what's on your mind?" he asked, trying to catch her eye.

"Honestly? Everything. I mean, it's all kind of a lot to take in. And there are still things I don't quite understand."

"Like?" Seth pushed.

"Like, why do you look so different?"

"I'm not that different, just taller and broader. And hotter, literally," he teased.

Ashley rolled her eyes. "It's not just that. It's - never mind."

Seth stepped in front of her and brought her chin up to look him in the eyes.

"Ashley, never be afraid to tell me what's on your mind, or to ask me anything. I promise not to judge you in any way if that's what you are worried about." Seth sighed and pulled her into him, she wrapped her arms around his waist. "I wish there was a way I could prove to you that I love you more than anything or anyone. And nothing you can say or do will ever change that."

Ashley had no idea how to respond to that, but she felt very warm inside and smiled. She sighed with complete and utter content.

"Okay." She pulled away from him. "Let me see if I've got this straight first."

The pair began walking again.

"So you are a werewolf who was created to destroy vampires and protect humans, right?" she asked, looking up at him. It all sounded so bizarre, but she had to admit that she trusted Seth, and knew him well enough to know when he was lying, and he definitely was not lying about this. Besides, she had seen it with her own eyes.

He nodded, and his eyes told her to continue.

"Okay," she stretched out the word trying to figure out how to continue. "And the vampires who actually live near here are friendly, and drink animal blood rather than human blood. Most of the other wolves dislike them anyways, but you're the weird one who decided that they weren't so bad?" Ashley smiled at him.

Seth nodded again, smiling now.

"So you, your sister, Paul, Jared, Sam, Jacob, Embry, and Quil make up the pack, and you can all read each other's thoughts? Anything, any time?" Ashley's asked, a little worried for Seth's response.

"Well, not any time. Only when we are in wolf form can we read each other's minds. And it's actually really useful to communicate over long distances, but it can get kind of annoying sometimes. Especially with Leah in the pack. She has to always hear Sam think about Emily and she makes everyone else just as miserable as she is. It's also obnoxious because there are no secrets. Everything you think of or remember is seen by the rest of them. I'm sorry."

Ashley took Seth's hand in hers and interlocked their fingers. "Don't worry, it's not your fault. None of this is."

Seth smiled again. They were approaching Ashley's house now. The two of them walked up the steps to the porch and stopped in front of the door, not going in just yet.

"So mind reading, advanced senses, imprinting and heat are all things that just come with the wolf package? But you have super advanced hearing? Like, better than the rest of them?"

"Uh huh," Seth beamed.

"You have no control over any of this?"

Seth shook his head.

"And you can only imprint once, right."

"As far as we know, yes."

"And Jared imprinted on Kim, Paul on Daphne, Sam on Emily, and you imprinted on me?"

"Yup."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Very," he said, kissing her. Ashley smiled into the kiss.

"I think I could live with that," she admitted when they pulled away.

"Anything else you need cleared up?"

"Only about a million things." Ashley pulled out her phone and saw that it was 9:30. Her mom would be upset if she were out any later. "I wish you could stay longer."

"What if I told you I could?"

Ashley laughed. "Don't tell me you can stop time too."

"Not exactly."

A/N: Sorry it's a little late. I have been crazy busy recently and I have had no time to write. Oh well, hope it's worth the wait :D